ASU BIOS technician joins UNOLS Technician Training Cruise

ASU BIOS marine science technician Vladek P sets sail aboard R/V Sikuliaq to learn new technical skills and share ASU BIOS research with a broader cohort as part of a UNOLS Technician Training Cruise 

For the past week, Vladek P, an ASU BIOS marine science technician, has been underway on a UNOLS Technician Training Cruise aboard R/V Sikuliaq, sailing from Seattle, Washington, to Nome, Alaska. The training cruise has not only helped advance Vladek’s technical and scientific skills, but has also allowed him to share the research conducted at ASU BIOS with an international cohort of technicians and scientists. 

“This cruise has been an excellent hands-on opportunity to learn more about the people, systems, and technical workflows that support oceanographic research at sea,” said Vladek. 

“A major highlight has been seeing how much coordination happens behind the scenes to support science at sea. From instrument calibration and data acquisition to deck operations, documentation, outreach, electrical systems, forecasting, IT support, and vessel operations, every system depends on communication, preparation, and people who know how to troubleshoot under real shipboard conditions,” he continued.
 

Group training sessions aboard R/V Sikuliaq covered a wide range of shipboard science and technical systems. The international cohort received hands-on practical training using the ship's meteorological, oceanographic, and hydroacoustic instrumentation, which included a suite of new tools and those Vladek operates daily on R/V Atlantic Explorer. 

By combining hands-on training with group lectures and discussions, the course connected day-to-day shipboard operations with the broader research questions driving ocean observing and research infrastructure.
 

Vladek had the opportunity to lead presentations on ShipWiki and IT solutions, and shared practical tools and workflow ideas, connecting the operational backbone that supports the ASU BIOS Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study with those of other ocean observation initiatives such as the Hawaii Ocean Time-series Program, Global Tropical Moored Buoy Array and Rolling Deck to Repository.

For Vladek, the local environment provided an incredible backdrop for mastering new skills and working alongside a broader team of technicians.

“Sailing north toward Alaska aboard Sikuliaq has made the training even more memorable. The route from Seattle to Nome gives a real sense of scale, changing weather, wildlife, and the unique challenges of supporting ocean science in high-latitude environments,” he said.

“I’m grateful to UNOLS, the Sikuliaq crew, instructors, and fellow participants for the opportunity to learn, share, and keep building the skills needed to support research vessels safely and effectively,” Vladek continued. 

We look forward to welcoming Vladek back to Bermuda as he shares his new learnings, skills, and experiences with the crew of R/V Atlantic Explorer. Opportunities for our technicians to connect with international colleagues are highly valued, and the UNOLS Technician Training Cruise provides an important opportunity to strengthen the collaboration that drives innovation and advances research at ASU BIOS.